PHOTOS BY JENNIFER COLTON
The event – open to all children 10 and younger – started at 10:05 a.m. Children and parents waited on the sidelines of each of the three egg-filled areas, one for each of three age groups. At the announcement of “go,” each line erupted in a frenzy of color as little legs and hands raced for their share of the eggs.
About 200 children attended the annual event this year, and all eggs were claimed from the ground, trees, and playground of West Park in less than a minute and a half.
With time to spare after the egg-finding frenzy, the Molina family took a moment to relax next to the playground while 6-year-old Meliza cracked open her plastic eggs in a colorful dress and matching bunny ears.
“They’re hard to open,” Meliza said of the eggs, “but I like the candy.”
Angelica Molina said the family recently moved to Umatilla, so this was their first time attending the hunt. She appreciated how children were separated into different age groups.
“I’m sure we will be back next year,” she said.
The Umatilla Easter Egg Hunt is an annual event organized by the Umatilla Chamber of Commerce and staffed by chamber board members and volunteers. For more information about chamber activities or to volunteer for events, call the Chamber office at 541-922-4825.
